I was asked by someone recently (okay it was Stretch and it was yesterday), why I prefer WordPress blogging software over the set-up that Blogger has. That seems blog post worthy to me.
First some similarities:
- Both allow you to set up a new blog with just a few easy steps
- Both allow you to blog, post pictures, organize with tags and categories
- Both allow a level of customization
- Both can be made private
- Both are free
Now, what is it about WordPress that makes me sing its praises? (note, I have not yet actually sung anything to or about WordPress.)
- It is not beholden to Google. You do not need a Google account to create one. You do not need a Google account to comment on one (although with Blogger you can set it so everyone and their dog can post with any account, but the option of Google accounts only or people and their dogs does not appeal to me).
- It has smilies!
😀 🙂 ^_^ 🙁 😮
😯 :unsure: 8) ;-( 😆
xD :annoy: 😉 :p :whistle:
:woot: :sleep: =] :sick: :straight:
:love: :kiss: :heart: - Customization is done through WordPress, You do not need to go out and find hacks elsewhere to add widgets and plug-ins and all sorts of other customization.
- You can use it on their server, or you can download the software to your own server (what I do) and have control over every single aspect of your site.
- They do not completely assume that the code you type in is not the code you really wanted.
- I’m not limited by the limitations of Blogger.
- It is very easy to mess with as little or as much as you want.
- Ultimately, I feel I have more control over my information and privacy this way than I do with Blogger.
And while there certainly are exceptions to this, Blogger is the blogging software of the masses. It is cheap and weak. From what I’ve seen it’s mostly used by people who thought, “oooh, internet, I wonder what I could do with it.” While businesses and tech type people use WordPress. It’s just a much more serious blogging set-up (certain blogs accepted on both sides of that of course).
In short, Blogger is the VW bug of the blogging world. WordPress is the Ferrari. And yet it is a Ferrari that anyone can get and use, not just the elite.
I’ve used them both. And I know people who truly do love Blogger, most of my friends with blogs use Blogger. But if the choice is mine, I’ll use WordPress, I’ll take the Ferrari. And the snobby side of me thinks people use Blogger because they know not what else is there.
I am an educator and PhD. I quilt, belly dance, run, read, and try to grow things. I am a Mormon. I am infertile. I am a daughter, sister, aunt, grand-daughter, friend, wife, and mom.
Brett L. Dennis
Mama g
Giggles
AmandaStretch
First, I love that you sometimes refer to me as Amanda, others as The Book Guardian, and other times as Stretch. I don’t know if anyone else notices, nor does it really matter, but it amuses me.
Second, the hack I was looking at last night, I found in the Add Gadget portion of Blogger, even though it was submitted by a third party developer. I didn’t have to leave the platform to find it. I’ve also found it very easy to mess with as little or as much as I want (with the exception of the drop down archive list, but I haven’t taken much time with it yet). Granted, my blog is very simple currently, but I have messed with it every so often. I’ve never felt limited. I also find it more aesthetically pleasing, generally, though I realize that’s completely subjective.
As for commenting, I have to have a separate login for every WordPress blog, which, as you know, doesn’t always work. If I’m signed into Google, I can comment on any blogger blog I have permission to see.
I actually did look at WordPress, briefly, when I first started blogging, so I did know what was out there. At least I did. I can’t speak for others.
Finally, and most importantly, the content of the blog is far more important to me than what blogging platform they use. 🙂
I could’ve just as easily written a blog post about why I prefer PCs over Macs. And it would’ve gotten a reaction similar to yours from at least one person.
What it boils down to is I’ve tried both and I definitely prefer one over the other. I have my opinions and views about each. You asked what my opinions and views were. These are them. Do I think my opinions are worth more than others? Sure, sometimes. We all do. But there you have it. And now you know.
Ouch! I feel so small 😉 If I knew anything more about computers I would want the Ferrari, but the fact is I am not computer savvy. So, I am happy with my VW, well at least I was until I read this entry.
I figured it might come across that way. 🙁
Looking at the statistics, there are more than 60 blogs I subscribe to among just my family and friends (luckily they don’t all post every day). Only 7 of them use WordPress. Two use Apple blogging software.
If I were to count the craft and other type blogs I read, blogger is still the most popular.
It gets the job done. It does what people need it to do.
It just isn’t for me.
The comparison to the Mac/PC debate is very applicable to me. I will never own a Mac. But I know people who do and who love them and can’t sing the praises of Mac loud enough. But you will never hear me doing that. They just aren’t for me.
I love my friends who use Blogger, I just can’t love Blogger.
As to the logging in problems Stretch – I’m more inclined to believe that’s a problem with your browser cookies than it is with WordPress software, since you’re the only one it really happens to and it only happens to you at work. It’s happened once or twice to my mom, but I already know her browser does weird cache/cookie things some times.
As for never having a problem with Blogger, I’m watching it cycle and stall trying to load a blog right now because it says there is something wrong with my browser cookies, and I am logged in to my Gmail account. Happens probably 30% of the time I go to a private blog and I have to reload the whole blog.
I’d be willing to bet money there isn’t a computer or software out there that doesn’t have its share of problems (and yes, that does include Macs). It’s just a matter of what ones are you willing to put up with. 😉
Beating a dead horse-
I was looking at the website for the Anniversary Inn tonight (giggle) and it was a beautiful site that they’ve obviously paid money for the design of it as well as the server it is hosted on. And I saw they had a blog. So I clicked on it. And it took me to a blogger blog that didn’t match the design of their site at all and I immediately lost interest and closed the window. If they’re spending money on the rest of the site, why go with a free blog? It really didn’t fit.